Mass Arrests of Occupy Wall St. Protesters Bring Up First Amendment Issues

COMMENTARY | Do we really have the right to peaceably assemble as Americans? More than 700 arrests in the Occupy Wall Street movement would suggest that although Americans preach about our First Amendment freedoms, we are not supposed to actually exercise that freedom if the government feels threatened.

Occupy Wall Street started on Sept. 17 with a group of like-minded individuals gathering to protest the corruption and greed of corporations, the unfair treatment of minorities, the 2008 bailouts, high unemployment rates, and other social ills. Slogans on protestor signs read, “We are the 99%,” “This is My Occupation,” and “We are the People.” Activists have spread the word through social media outlets to encourage people to exercise their First Amendment right to peaceably assemble and join them in making the voices of the 99 percent heard.

A shocking move by a police commander against peaceful women protesters suddenly gave Occupy Wall Street the media attention it needed to get off the ground. About a week after the protests began the peaceful sit-in suddenly drew attention from media when the NYPD began to clash with demonstrators. But perhaps, clash is too strong of a word. After all, the evidence from photos and videos of the demonstrators show the protesters being antagonized by the police, not the other way around.

A viral video of the women being maced quickly drew the attention of the media that the movement needed. The women, one of whom is a media reporter, were not causing harm, antagonizing the police, and were in no way provoking or inciting violence when a police officer in a white uniform turned around and spritzed pepper spray into their eyes, making them scream out in pain and fall to the ground in tears. These women committed no crime, yet the NYPD chief spokesman felt the use of pepper spray on the non-violent women was justified.

Nick Carbone of Times reported , ” NYPD chief spokesman Paul J. Browne told the Times that police had used the pepper spray “appropriately.” But protest spokesman Patrick Bruner called the police response “exceedingly violent,” maintaining that demonstrators sought to remain peaceful. The NYPD reports that about 80 people were arrested, primarily for disorderly conduct and blocking traffic.”

In the third week of protests, on October 1, the NYPD used riot squad tactics against the protesters after the group decided it would march across the Brooklyn Bridge. Protesters were allowed to use the pedestrian walkway, but were encouraged by police officers to walk in traffic lanes. Little did the protestors know that they were being shepherded onto the bridge only to be arrested on what police are claiming were violations of, ” blocking traffic lanes and attempting an unauthorized march.”

The New York Times reported, “Police Department highway cars escorted as many as 10 Department of Correction buses from Rikers Island to Lower Manhattan in preparation for what one law enforcement official said was ‘a planned move on the protesters.’ The official said that the buses, which can carry roughly 20 prisoners each, were needed because of the expected large number of arrests and the need to transport those arrested to central booking.”

I have combed through photos, reports, and videos about the incident at the Brooklyn Bridge between NYPD and Occupy Wall Street. Some things are not adding up and it is becoming apparent that the police are being paid not to protect citizens, but to harass the protesters. Why would police, numbering in the hundreds, block both ends of the bridge and trap demonstrators on the bridge with orange mesh netting if it wasn’t a set up? Was it meant to provoke violence from the protesters? This appears to be the case. If violence is provoked then the police and onlookers can say, “See…They were not peaceful. They were not exercising peaceable assembly under the First Amendment.”

What is truly sad about this situation is that we as Americans are vocal about how other governments are full of oppression and suppress the voices of the people. Yet, we are witnessing the same type of oppression in our back yards and the arrest of the Occupy Wall St. demonstrators just prove the points of the protesters –that the government is in control and it isn’t about “We the People” anymore.

Occupy Wall Street protestors have inspired similar protests all over the nation . Boston, Chicago and San Francisco are just a few cities where protests have sprung up. We can only wait and watch to see what the government response will be to the numerous protests popping up. Will it be a case of suppression or will we see a change in society?


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